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Wealthsimple vs Questwealth 2026: Canada''s Two Largest Robo-Advisors Compared

Updated

If you are still narrowing the field, start with the overall best robo-advisors in Canada roundup, then compare the platform-specific breakdowns in our Wealthsimple review and Questwealth review. The real tradeoff on this page is lower cost versus smoother UX, which is easier to evaluate beside the full robo-advisor fees comparison and the do-it-yourself alternative in robo-advisor vs ETF portfolio.

Quick Comparison Summary

FeatureWealthsimple ManagedQuestwealth
Management fee0.40–0.50% (Core)0.20–0.25%
Underlying ETF MERs~0.10–0.20%~0.15–0.25%
All-in estimated cost~0.50–0.60%~0.35–0.50%
Minimum investment$0$1,000
Account typesTFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, personal, joint, corporateTFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, personal, joint, corporate
SRI / ESG portfoliosYes (SRI + Halal)Yes (SRI)
Halal portfolio✅ Yes❌ No
RESP target-date glide path❌ No✅ Yes
Pure ETF auto-rebalancing✅ Yes✅ Yes
Dividend reinvestment✅ Yes✅ Yes
Human advisor access✅ Yes (Generation tier)✅ Yes ($250K+)
App quality⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent companyWealthsimple (independent)Questrade Financial Group

Fee Comparison at Different Portfolio Sizes

Portfolio SizeWealthsimple Annual CostQuestwealth Annual CostAnnual Savings with Questwealth
$10,000~$55~$40~$15
$25,000~$138~$100~$38
$50,000~$275~$200~$75
$100,000~$550~$400~$150
$250,000~$1,375~$1,000~$375
$500,000~$2,750~$2,000~$750

Estimates based on management fee + average ETF MER. Actual costs vary by portfolio selection. Wealthsimple Generation (2M+) is 0.20% management fee and not shown.

ETF Portfolio Breakdown

Wealthsimple Core Portfolios

Risk LevelEquity %Fixed Income %Typical ETFs Used
Conservative30%70%iShares XGRO / XCNS-type blend
Balanced50%50%iShares, Vanguard, BMO mix
Growth70%30%VCN, XUU, XEF, ZAG-type mix
Aggressive90%10%Global equity tilt
All Equity100%0%Broad market equities only

Questwealth Portfolios

PortfolioEquity %Fixed Income %ETF Approach
Income20%80%QFF + QFI Questrade ETFs + third party
Conservative40%60%Balanced blend
Balanced60%40%Standard diversified
Growth80%20%Equity-tilted
Aggressive Growth100%0%All equity; global diversification

Account Types Available

Account TypeWealthsimple ManagedQuestwealth
TFSA
RRSP
FHSA
RESP
RRIF
LIRA
Personal non-registered
Joint non-registered
Corporate

RESP Comparison

FeatureWealthsimple ManagedQuestwealth
RESP account available✅ Yes✅ Yes
Target-date glide path (age-based)❌ No✅ Yes
Shared family RESP✅ Yes✅ Yes
CESG grant processing✅ Yes✅ Yes
CLB (Canada Learning Bond)✅ Yes✅ Yes
ACES grant (AB)✅ Yes✅ Yes

SRI / Responsible Investing

FeatureWealthsimpleQuestwealth
ESG / SRI portfolios✅ Yes (dedicated SRI portfolios)✅ Yes (SRI portfolios)
Halal (Shariah-compliant)✅ Yes — unique to Wealthsimple in Canada❌ No
ESG ETF MER premium+0.10–0.15% above core+0.05–0.15% above core

Who Should Choose Each Robo-Advisor

Choose Wealthsimple Managed If…Choose Questwealth If…
You’re a beginner who wants a polished appYou have $25,000+ and want to minimize fees
You want a Halal-compliant portfolioYou want a target-date RESP glide path
You have under $1,000 to startYou’re already a Questrade brokerage client
You value brand trust and easy UXYou’re comfortable with a slightly simpler interface
You want Wealthsimple Cash + Tax bundledYou want maximum cost efficiency
You plan to upgrade to Generation at $2M+You don’t need the Wealthsimple ecosystem

The Verdict

At small balances (under $25,000), Wealthsimple’s better user experience and no minimum make it the practical choice — the fee difference is minimal in dollar terms. At $50,000+, Questwealth’s lower total cost becomes meaningful; a $75–$375 annual savings compounds significantly over decades. If you’re a Questrade self-directed client already, Questwealth is especially seamless since it integrates within the same platform.

Bottom line: Wealthsimple for beginners and ecosystem users. Questwealth for cost-focused investors with $25,000+.